West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-10-14
CAUSE OF DROUTH AND CY-
CLONES.

|
fogs, the only consolation in contem-
plating them being that they repre-
/ sentcd the work of Nature in draw
inc moisture from the water, which,
waited inland, fell upon the soil in
refreshing rain, gathered in the
brooks and rivers and flowed to the
sea, to be again thus sent back to
freshen and brighten the parched
earth.
The speed of our vessel was ma
terially retarded by winds from the
west, common occurrence in the
summer season. The fogs and mois
ture through these winds are driven
upon the Continent, where drouth
seldom prevails, and particularly do
they freshen the verdure of Ireland,
and hence the brilliant green of the
Emerald Isle.
In rejecting upon this subject, |
contemplated the drouth then pre-
vailing in several of the Western
and Middle States Of the Union.
What had they to gather rains from?
A,as, what have they? For gen.
Grafton our farmers have been drain
inc their lands of moisture. They
have run their tileing through every
slough; they have drawn out the
water from every swamp; they have
dried up the pond; they have oblit-
Grated the beautiful little lake. In
doing this they have made. such easy
and rapid egress for rainful from the
soil, rs to endanger the homes and
farm lands of all the settlers along
the great rivers in the Southern re
gions of our country, already inflict-
| inc great distress, loss of life and
property equaling in value many
millions of dollars-an evil which is
growing in magnitude each year.
The result of this wholesale drain
ing of the upper country of water is
not only thus disastrous to life and
property along the larger streams
from frequent overflow, but there is
such absolute drainage of moisture
from the earth as to produce severe
drouth, accompanied by such in
tense heat and dryness of atmos-
phere as results in the hurricane,
the cyclone, and innumerable viii
lage, prairie, and forest fires.
In the early days when the pro
cess Of evaporation OF moisture went
forward from the swamps, the ponds
and lakes of our Western and Mid
die States, an extended drouth, with
extremely intense heat. was compar-
atively rare. In those days sun
stroke was very uncommon, and the
cyclone was comparatively unknown.
This year we are in the second sea-
son OF drouth in various portions OF
the country, while every year brings
its devastation from wind, the result
of an excessively dry and frequent
lv disturbed condition of the atmos-
phere.
With the land thus denuded of
natural water supply, there is but
one course for our farmers to pur-
sue to save themselves from these
evils. They may drain their soil,
but they should gather the rainfall
in ponds and lakes scattered
throughout their lands. Instead of
running the drains through and out
of the swamp, they should lead to
an excavation of such size as cir
cumstances will permit, which should
be made at depth of three or four
feet, where the water can gather and
remain throughout the year, quench-
inc the thirst of animals, giving
drink to birds, reservoir in case of
fire. home for fish, spot Of beauty
on which may sail the boat, an OPP
portuDity for the bath and for teach
ing the young people to swim. 1t
will yield ice for the family, provide
skating for the happy youth in win
ter time, and moisture, which,
through evaporation, will pass into
the cloud to be returned again thro'
rainfall to the needy earth.
No fear need be entertained of
stagnation from water thus held in
reserve. Fish will of themselves pu-
rify it. Every rain will change it,
while, if the lake covers an acre or
more in area, the wind will constant
ly keep it pure. The writer, in proof
of this, has an artificial lake on his
farm, the result of dredging a
swamp, which is filled only by rain
fall, the water being, in the dryest
season, always perfectly clear and
fresh.
On the low lands the general alb
andonment of farms and homes from
river overflow will be the inevitable
outcome of this water wastage in the
high grounds. Such is already the
fact, while the expenditure of many
millions of dollars by the Govern
ment, in the construction of levees
and embankments along the great
rivers. will be necessary for the fur
ther protection of adjoining proper
ty. Vastly better that this expen-
diture be made in holding the water
where it is required in the up-coun-
try.
Dot the farms of our inland States